September film releases up

Distributors opened 35 new films during September, up slightly from last year’s 33 but still lagging behind year-to-date levels.

The majors bowed 15 films during the month, 14 homegrown and one import, the South African production “Sarafina!”

Significantly, 12 of these pictures received wide national exposure, with remaining titles Paramount’s “Bob Roberts,” Fox’s “Jumpin at the Boneyard” and WB’s “South Central” in limited initial release.

Last September only four films (“Late for Dinner,””Deceived,””The Fisher King” and “Necessary Roughness”) received saturation openings from the majors.

The decrease in output is still due to the independent sector, though overall indie releases for the past four years has steadied at 200 to 215 films per year over the first three quarters.